Welcome

Opening Carol: Once in Royal Davids City

First verse soloist:

Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love,
For that child, so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

Opening Prayer

Tonight we remember Jesus and the story of his birth: Jesus is our King.

Jesus is the light of the world: Jesus is our way.

With Jesus even dark places are light: Jesus is the Truth

In Jesus we shall live forever: Jesus is our life.

Reading: Isaiah 9:2,6,7

Carol: On Christmas Night all Christians Sing

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
News of great joy news of great mirth
News of our merciful Kings birth

Then why should we on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
Then why should we on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
When from our sin He set us free
All for to gain our liberty

When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place
When sin departs before His grace
Then life and healthcome in its place
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new born king

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
Glory to God and peace to men
Now and for evermore Amen

Reading: Luke 1:26-38

Choir: Christmas Night (1588) arr Rutter

Reading: Luke 2:1-7

Carol: Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild:
sleep in heavenly peace
sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight:
glories stream from heaven afar
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light:
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

Silent night, holy night
God’s great love giving life
Let the world together rejoice
Sing forever with one voice
Heaven’s hope is here
Heaven’s hope is here

Reading: Luke 2:8-20

Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
how still we see thee lie!
above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight

O morning stars together
proclaim the holy birth
and praises sing to God the King
and Peace to men on earth
For Christ is born of Mary
and gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still,
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
descend to us, we pray:
cast out our sin and enter in
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel.

Talk: Rev Phil Cansdale

When I need a friend
Christopher Anthony John Martin / Guy Rupert Berryman / Jonathan Mark Buckland / William Champion

Prayers

including the refrain: Holy Holy, Love descend

We finish with the words of the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Reading: John 1:1-5,9,14

Carol: Hark the Herald

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
join the triumph of the skies
with the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come
offspring of a Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth:
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Closing Prayer

God our Father,
your word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem:
may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds;
through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmas;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
now and always.
Amen